As a former US Army Ranger, Drill Instructor and Advisor/Trainer to the Bosnia & Herzegovina Army (1996-97) under the US State Department "Train & Equip Program". I have always enjoyed sharing with soldiers my personal experiences, tips, tricks and ideas in how to survive & thrive in the outdoors. And although I've been retired from the United States Army since January 1993, I am still doing what I like best - teaching & training soldiers. But not in a class room but through a series of books called THE RANGER DIGESTS.

Now before I decided to self-publish these books I use to forward all my tips, tricks and ideas to the Department of the Army. But the only thing I ever received back were letters saying, "...sorry, not feasible for military outdoor field conditions." Well since the Army wasn't interested in my ideas, I then decided to write a book about my tips & tricks and try to market them to the troops myself. After all, when it comes to "common sense" and "field craft ingenuity" the troops know more about this stuff than some "chair-borne" colonel or general sitting behind his nice cozy desk at the Pentagon . You know what I mean?

And guess what? Yep, my instincts proved to be right on target. Not only did the troops love my first Ranger Digest but they also helped me to write my Ranger Digests II thru IX. No doubt it was a blessing in disguise that these chair-borne colonels and generals did reject my tips & tricks or there wouldn't be a Ranger Digest series (I-IX) today.

And now, not only do I write and self publish my own military-outdoor survival books but I sell my own survival kits too. And I love it, I love putting these kits together because I know someday they could save someone's life - YOURS! To learn more about my survival kits and some other products just click on my Emergency Survival Kits and Wilderness Survival Store. And if you like what you see there I hope you will spread the word and let others know about my survival kits, tips and training too.

Army Ranger Rick's Military Experience & Background

Summary of Qualifications: Served twenty-one years (1972-93) in the United States Army in various demanding leadership positions as an Airborne-Infantry/Anti-Tank Squad Leader, Airborne-Ranger Platoon Sergeant, Drill Instructor, Cold Weather Instructor, Small Arms Repairman, Battalion S-3 Assistant Operation Sergeant and US Army Headquarters G-3 War Plans Division Operation sergeant. Currently self-employed as a freelance military /outdoor survival instructor.

*1992 - Selected for promotion to Master Sergeant/E-8 but after being denied permission to remain overseas outside CONUS, refused the promotion and instead chose to retire from the Army and today lives in Bardolino on Lake Garda, Italy.

Bosnia & Herzegovina - In September 1996 was hired by Military Professional Resources Inc (MPRI) to provide assistance in training the Bosnian & Herzegovina (Muslim) Army under the US State Department approved "Train & Equip Program."

His most noteworthy accomplishments while assigned to MPRI Task Order 7-3 as an instructor & advisor...

a) Designed and developed numerous training aids not only for his own team task order but for other team task orders including some B&H (Muslim) army units.

b) Trained small groups of B&H (Muslim) leaders in his off duty time in how to plan, organize and conduct recons, raids, ambushes and other basic patrolling tactics.

c) Prior to his daily scheduled classes began each class with his "Army Ranger Rick's Tips & Tricks" which became very popular and well received by his students.

d) Tasked twice by his MPRI superiors to develop a land navigation training course which would not have been possible nor successful had he not purchased all the US military lensatic compasses "out of his own pocket" and was never reimbursed.

e) Developed a special study guide for his B&H students so they could put together their own training handbook from various classes he was assigned to teach.

f) Rewarded students who actively participated in his classes with small gifts such as pocket compasses, camouflage paint sticks, map protractors, etc, all acquired or purchased out of his own pocket. Out of the seventeen MPRI instructors assigned to his Team Task Order 7-3;

1) Four instructors were assigned 25% more classes than the other thirteen task order instructors, Ken XXXXXX, Dave XXXXXXXXX, Steve XXXXX and Rick Tscherne.

2) Only four instructors were willing to "lead by example" and walk alongside their students in hazardous terrain, Steve XXXXX, Ken XXXXXX, Dave XXXXXXXXX, and Rick Tscherne.

3) Only two instructors were willing to remain "out in the field" at all times with their assigned unit, Phil XXXXXX and Rick Tscherne.

4) During a joint training meeting between MPRI company executives and a B&H Army Infantry Brigade Commander and his staff. Two MPRI instructors were singled out and requested "by name" to accompany their unit out in the field, Frank XXXX and Rick Tscherne.